Espana Waltz
Espana Waltz By: Emile Waldteufel Arr: F.H. Greissinger Original U.S. Copyright: 1894 by: Carl Fischer Co.
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Waldteufel, Emile Arr: Greissinger, F.H.
Vaclav Klimek Collection
Waldteufel Emile (Levy, Charles Emile) DOB: December 9, 1837 (Strasbourg, France) DOD: February 12, 1915 (Paris, France) Charles Emile Levy, who composed under the pseudonym Emile Waldteufel, was born in Strasbourg, France, on December 9, 1837. He came from a family of dance musicians who also had shared the pseudonym Waldteufel. At age four, his family moved to Paris, where he learned piano, first from his mother, and later with private tutors. At the age of seven, he began study at the Paris Conservatory, where Bizet and Massenet were his classmates. He left the Conservatory in 1848 because of financial difficulties and earned a living selling newspapers and demonstrating pianos. At the age of 15, he left home and rented an attic room, earning money by giving piano lessons. During the Franco-Prussian War, he volunteered for military service. He returned to Paris after the war and worked as a musician and conducted presidential balls. Levy began writing waltzes but found difficulty in having them published. However, in March, 1875, he signed a contract with Hopwood & Crew to publish his music. This contract lasted through 1888. British bandleader Charles Coote regularly performed Levy’s waltzes, thus bringing them to the attention of a wide audience. Despite the popularity of some of the waltzes, including Les Patineurs (The Skaters) Estudiantina, and España, he always labored under the looming shadow of Johann Strauss, Jr. Levy conducted only on special occasions, and when his music began to go out of vogue, he ceased conducting entirely. He died in Paris on February 12, 1915. 1
Greissinger, F. Henri DOB: Unknown DOD: Unknown F. Henri Greissinger was leader of the 12th U.S. Infantry Band, which was stationed at Ft. Yates, Dakota (1888-1889), Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas (1890), Ft. Niobrara, Nebraska (1896), and Ft. Jefferson, Missouri (1899). He retired from the infantry and was leader of the band at the soldiers home in Los Angeles, California, in 1912. He was known mostly as an arranger, and many of his arrangements were published by Carl Fischer. 1
España Waltz (waltz) was published by Carl Fischer in 1894. One of at least 10 editions, this work was arranged by F. Henri Greissinger. In España Waltz, Waldteufel borrowed thematic material from Chabrier’s España Rhapsody. The composer calls for several styles, ranging
from “with fire,” and “with grace” to “lightly,” “resolutely” and “energetically.”
1
Rehig, William H., Bierley, Paul (editor). The encyclopedia of band music, Integrity Press, Westerville, OH. (2005), CD, used with permission.
